breednet.com.au

NZB Airfreight Makes New Plymouth a Stepping Stone to the Jericho

Media Release - Thursday September 14

Warrnambool’s Jericho Cup (4600m) has quickly become a hugely popular target every December for some of the toughest Australasian-bred stayers, and NZB Airfreight is once again giving Kiwi trainers two golden tickets into the A$300,000 feature this December.

Saturday’s $40,000 NZB Airfreight Road to the Jericho (3210m) at New Plymouth is the first of two qualifying races to be staged in New Zealand this spring. The second will be the $50,000 NZB Airfreight Road to the Jericho (3000m) at Riccarton on October 28.

Bastida won the Jericho Cup last year.

The winner of each qualifying race receives a guaranteed start in the Jericho Cup. As sponsors, NZB Airfreight will offer a $5,000 equine airfreight credit for the winner of each qualifying race, should they decide to travel across the Tasman and contest the Jericho Cup.

Inaugurated in 2018, the A$300,000 Jericho Cup is open to Australian and New Zealand-bred horses only, commemorating the light horse involvement in World War I and run on the fourth Sunday after the Group One Melbourne Cup (3200m). The original Jericho Cup was run in 1918 over three miles through desert sands. Its 100th anniversary was marked with the introduction of the modern Jericho Cup five years ago.

The New Zealand influence on the Jericho Cup has quickly taken hold, with the first four winners all bred on this side of the Tasman – High Mode (NZ) (Redwood), Ablaze (NZ) (Raise the Flag), Count Zero (NZ) (Zed) and Bastida (NZ) (Pierro).

Advertisement

There has not yet been a Kiwi-trained winner, with COVID-19 preventing New Zealand involvement in both 2020 and 2021. But Kevin Myers went close last year with Botti (NZ) (Jakkalberry), who was runner-up behind Bastida.

Saturday’s Jericho qualifier at New Plymouth has attracted a full field of 20, including the Myers-trained Mondorani (NZ) (Burgundy), who has won five races and more than $265,000 in stakes. His biggest win came in the Group Three New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton in November of 2021.

The NZB Airfreight Road to the Jericho will be run as Race 7 at New Plymouth on Saturday, with a scheduled start time of 4.37pm.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Breeding To Win - 2025 Royal Ascot G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes
In the depths of our Aussie winter nights there is nothing better than tuning in to all the pomp and glory of Royal Ascot and as we have passed the halfway mark it's time to look towards Saturday night and the iconic sprint that has been won four times previously by an Aussie bred horse.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
It’s a busy time of year for late season juveniles looking get a run on the board before they turn three and eight heats at the Rosehill trials on Friday were won by two year-olds including some unraced youngsters by gun first season sires Wootton Bassett (GB), Ole Kirk and Farnan.
Sires With Winners - Saturday June 21
Here is the full list of 101 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Royal Ascot Day 5 – Runaway, Rising Empire and My Best Friend
After five spectacular days of racing, Royal Ascot is over with the finale overnight producing high drama with a runaway G1 winner, the rise of a racing empire and the first stakes horse for St Mark’s Basilica.
Aussie Owned Filly Wins G1 Royal Ascot Coronation Stakes
Long shots were the order of the day at Royal Ascot on Day 4 and there was no bigger or better upset than the 33-1 shock winner of the Group I Coronation Stakes (1m) for three year-old fillies with the winner Cercene sired by Epsom Derby winner Australia and owned by Australian Shane Stafford.
Headley Grange Gives Exosphere 11th Stakes Winner
A model of consistency with 17 top four placed finishes from 18 starts, Joe Pride’s 4yo Exosphere gelding Headley Grange stepped up to black type race for the first time with instant success, winning the $200,000 Listed ATC Civic Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
Bonny Grey Mare Wins G3 Strickland
Last December at Ascot, popular grey mare Admiration Express (My Admiration) nearly caused the upset result of the year when she charged home at odds of 100/1 in the G1 Northerly Stakes for second behind Victorian raider Light Infantry Man.
Highview Makes Welcome Return to Weanling Sale
Many of the vendors at this month’s NZB National Weanling Sale are familiar faces who are renowned for their quality drafts at this sale every year, but the 2025 edition also sees an old friend being welcomed back to the fold.
Sires With Winners - Friday June 20
Here is the full list of 40 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch Wins Again!
It might be winter and all eyes may have been on Royal Ascot this week, but there was a winner at Flemington on Saturday that will have caught the eye of anyone with half an interest towards spring racing and emerging talent.